Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

Abstract

s=2&pageNumber=2&pageSize=8&showBest=true&sort=fromprice&useSuggestions=true">sailings</a>, later this fall, at or below $50 per person, per night!</p><h2 id="d6b8">You can easily visit multiple destinations in one trip.</h2><p id="af59">This is my second favorite thing about cruising. I want to see as much of the world as my budget and time off from work allows, so when I get a chance to take a trip I want to maximize my time.</p><p id="796e">It’s not out of the ordinary to take a weeklong cruise and be able to visit 5 different ports of call! With no added cost of flying or driving between them, like there would be had you not cruised! Another no brainer.</p><h2 id="c934">There’s very little planning required.</h2><p id="746e">Once you book the cruise, that’s all you really <i>have</i> to do! There’s plenty to do on board and you’re welcome to wing it in port if that’s your thing. If you <i>do </i>want to take your planning up a notch, you can add excursions.</p><p id="6dee">These are super easy, too, because the cruise line has already pinpointed the best sites to see and things to do in port and created packages around them, so that you can very simply pick your favorite ones! On the day-of, you just show up to your designated meeting place and enjoy the day. It could not be easier!</p><p id="d2cc">Also, if you’re having trouble deciding on an excursion before your cruise, you can even wait until you’re onboard and visit the excursions desk for some guidance and recommendations. On some cruise lines, the cruise director may even host a show on the first night, where they share the best activities to do in port and offer the chance win a free excursion if you attend.</p><figure id="835c"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*o_9E1to7674X5wJZ"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@benobro?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">ben o'bro</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h2 id="76aa">Food and entertainment options are abundant.</h2><p id="50bf">There are endless food options on a cruise! You can eat from “the buffet” for every meal or you can go to the dining room for a formal meal. There are even short-order restaurant options and formal dining spots, like steakhouses.</p><p id="01a6">Many of the buffet offerings change daily, with some staple options like a salad bar, sandwich bar, and pizzeria. The dining room also offers a similar structure with some daily staples and new options at each meal.</p><p id="c496">Additionally, the dining room is served in separate courses and has a much more formal setting. It makes you feel like you’re splurging on a fancy meal out, when in fact these meals (aside from option add-ons) are covered completely in the price you’ve already paid to cruise.</p><p id="e8dd">As far as restaurants go, many ships have sushi bars, steakhouses, and Italian eateries. These restaurants typically have an added cost, but are still reasonably priced.</p><p id="6f22"

Options

For entertainment, most ships offer nightly shows, stand-up comedy acts, and live music, as well as various clubs and bars. During the day, you can relax by the pool, play some trivia, or head to the sports area to play some mini-golf or hit the gym.</p><h2 id="33c4">Customer Service</h2><p id="d856">Let me start by telling you that I have ZERO idea how they pull it off, but cruise ships have the most amazing customer service I think I’ve ever experienced.</p><p id="6176">For example, your cabin steward and his or her staff will know and call you by name from day one, no matter where they may see you on the ship. Not only do they know you by name, but your waiter and the other staff in the dining room will do the same. I can barely remember my own name some days, so this is absolutely baffling to me.</p><p id="e043">Cruise lines also love to celebrate with you! We often cruise around my birthday and I have received (to my complete surprise and with no prior mention of it being my birthday) gift cards to the spa as a birthday gift! Don’t expect this to happen all the time, but I think it’s impressive that it happened at all.</p><h1 id="80d8">Are low prices and good customer service enough?</h1><p id="2a5f">Consumers worried about their health and safety on board will need to feel confident that cruise lines are taking appropriate precautions before the industry can regain their confidence.</p><p id="f009">While concrete plans remain to be seen, we can <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/irenelevine/2020/04/04/what-will-it-take-to-restore-consumer-confidence-in-the-cruise-industry/#4771f57dd542">expect to see</a> strict screening to prevent sick passengers from ever embarking, ramped-up cleaning practices while onboard, and better plans for evacuation in the event one becomes necessary.</p><div id="bb6d" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-im-not-taking-a-mental-health-staycation-b141b4d56e14"> <div> <div> <h2>Why I’m Not Taking A Mental Health Staycation</h2> <div><h3>Even though we all probably should.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*MMKdEl7WsuliRYdf)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="4c8c" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/did-i-already-have-an-asymptomatic-case-of-covid-19-600d9ddea96f"> <div> <div> <h2>Did I Already Have an Asymptomatic Case of COVID-19?</h2> <div><h3>Sometimes I think there’s no possible way that I haven’t had the virus.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*79yH_1xqFxKKEl1G)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Travel | Coronavirus | Cruise Industry

The Coronavirus Won’t Keep People From Cruising

Why cruise vacations are so enticing.

Cruising is easily my favorite way to travel. If you would have told me that 5 years ago, I’d have laughed in your face and told you that you were nuts, because I get horrible motion sickness. However, now that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that motion sickness on a cruise ship can be easily managed, I make it a point to share with anyone who will listen: For pretty much any destination, cruising is THE way to go!

Unfortunately, the cruise industry has been hard hit by the novel coronavirus. Not only because there have been reputation-damaging instances where entire ships have been quarantined as the virus spreads like wildfire, but also because the world can’t really travel right now and there’s a no-sail order in place preventing any cruises from occurring.

The good news for consumers is that this is resulting in cruise lines dangling lucrative deals and relaxed booking and cancelation polices to entice customers to book future sailings and resume cruise travel as soon as it’s available.

What makes cruise travel so alluring?

Cruising is budget friendly!

This was already true before COVID-19 and it’s shaping up to be even better now.

A cruise includes your accommodations, transportation between destinations (I touch on this more in Reason #2), food and drink, and a large portion of entertainment all rolled into 1 amazing price! At this point, I am really not sure that I can be convinced of a better bang-for-your-buck travel option.

It is not uncommon at all to find cruise prices at or below $100 per person, per night. For my husband and I, that’s just $200/day. We would have to hustle pretty hard to find hotel accommodations that are comparable to those on a cruise ship, plus 3 full meals a day and free (read: onboard) entertainment. There’s just no way!

In the wake of the pandemic, Carnival Cruise Line is featuring many sailings, later this fall, at or below $50 per person, per night!

You can easily visit multiple destinations in one trip.

This is my second favorite thing about cruising. I want to see as much of the world as my budget and time off from work allows, so when I get a chance to take a trip I want to maximize my time.

It’s not out of the ordinary to take a weeklong cruise and be able to visit 5 different ports of call! With no added cost of flying or driving between them, like there would be had you not cruised! Another no brainer.

There’s very little planning required.

Once you book the cruise, that’s all you really have to do! There’s plenty to do on board and you’re welcome to wing it in port if that’s your thing. If you do want to take your planning up a notch, you can add excursions.

These are super easy, too, because the cruise line has already pinpointed the best sites to see and things to do in port and created packages around them, so that you can very simply pick your favorite ones! On the day-of, you just show up to your designated meeting place and enjoy the day. It could not be easier!

Also, if you’re having trouble deciding on an excursion before your cruise, you can even wait until you’re onboard and visit the excursions desk for some guidance and recommendations. On some cruise lines, the cruise director may even host a show on the first night, where they share the best activities to do in port and offer the chance win a free excursion if you attend.

Food and entertainment options are abundant.

There are endless food options on a cruise! You can eat from “the buffet” for every meal or you can go to the dining room for a formal meal. There are even short-order restaurant options and formal dining spots, like steakhouses.

Many of the buffet offerings change daily, with some staple options like a salad bar, sandwich bar, and pizzeria. The dining room also offers a similar structure with some daily staples and new options at each meal.

Additionally, the dining room is served in separate courses and has a much more formal setting. It makes you feel like you’re splurging on a fancy meal out, when in fact these meals (aside from option add-ons) are covered completely in the price you’ve already paid to cruise.

As far as restaurants go, many ships have sushi bars, steakhouses, and Italian eateries. These restaurants typically have an added cost, but are still reasonably priced.

For entertainment, most ships offer nightly shows, stand-up comedy acts, and live music, as well as various clubs and bars. During the day, you can relax by the pool, play some trivia, or head to the sports area to play some mini-golf or hit the gym.

Customer Service

Let me start by telling you that I have ZERO idea how they pull it off, but cruise ships have the most amazing customer service I think I’ve ever experienced.

For example, your cabin steward and his or her staff will know and call you by name from day one, no matter where they may see you on the ship. Not only do they know you by name, but your waiter and the other staff in the dining room will do the same. I can barely remember my own name some days, so this is absolutely baffling to me.

Cruise lines also love to celebrate with you! We often cruise around my birthday and I have received (to my complete surprise and with no prior mention of it being my birthday) gift cards to the spa as a birthday gift! Don’t expect this to happen all the time, but I think it’s impressive that it happened at all.

Are low prices and good customer service enough?

Consumers worried about their health and safety on board will need to feel confident that cruise lines are taking appropriate precautions before the industry can regain their confidence.

While concrete plans remain to be seen, we can expect to see strict screening to prevent sick passengers from ever embarking, ramped-up cleaning practices while onboard, and better plans for evacuation in the event one becomes necessary.